Identifying mechanism



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W. SCHLUMPF IDENTIFYING MEGHANISM Filed Aug. 4, 1932 Dec. 20, 1932.

INVENToR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1932 uixiifal; STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE 1.; WALTER scHLuMEE, 0E EANWoon, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNon To SEUR-CHER conPANY, INC., or V1u.\.NwooD TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY IDENTIEYING MEcHANIsM T his invention relates toan improved identifying mechanism ofthe kind that employs a. plurality of 'tags which'are placed in racks and which is .designedfor receiving certain if tags on certain racksand rejecting .tags destined forotherracks` The apparatus is particularly adapted for use'in' laundri'es where'theyattach the tag toa bundle of laundry to be washed. This tag is .the means forsuspending the wash, usually placed ina bag or net7 from the rack. The object of the invention is to provide a rack'which receives thevtag easily, which prevents the entryof the wrong tags and which utilizes-a simple flat tag.`

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a rack whichy prevents the .tags "from sliding out of the rackwithout manual operation; i Y I' A still further object oftheinvention is tof'provide a rack whichl :is constructedto al-V low the removalof a' tag from the rack with# outpassing it' out through the end of the rack. This is of great advantage when a bundle is to be removed-from a row of bundles suspended on th'erack.

- The invention is designed to be constructed with little cost asthe partsa're few in numtag as it first engages the rocker. Figure 7 is a face view of the rocker. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tag.

The device embodies a track with a longitudinal space between two rails. I show such track formed by two rails 10 and 11 being preferably made of a strip bent at one end into a return bend or loop 12. The track is ber :and the construction'is so simple that buty j Appncaaoamed Augusta 1932. serial No. 627,426.

supported in arms 13 which lit into sockets f 14 formed on the rail 10. This form of iiil stallationpermits ready removal or installation of track. The arms lare suitably supported on the side Walll or other suitable 55 support.

A tag 16 of generally flat shape slides edgewise between the rails 10 and 11 and is sus-v pended on at least one ofthe rails at the to-p edge. The form shown'is crimped or curled 60 atV the topedge as shown at 17. The crimped or enlarged top end bears on the top of the rail 10 and the tag serves to suspend a bag or net kof laundry. The bag isusually fastened by a safety pin18or its equivalent 65' which is secured to the bottom of the tag. Thedrawing shows a ring 1 9 to which the pin 18is fastened, the ring passing .th-rough a hole 2O in the lower part lofthe tag. The tag is easily placedon the track, the rails T0V being placed -as at 21to make lthe entry easy and thus facilitate the work of sorting.` It is usual to number atrack or rack and number each tag for that track with the same nu-y meral. To allow only the proper tags to go 7'5 into the space in the track there is installed a check device in the form of a rocker 22.: The rocker is supported in a manner to place its .two inner ends 23 and 24 in the space be-f tween the rails 10 and 11. The support shown 80 comprises a band 25 forming a housing 28 for the rocker and extending over the tracks to. be secured to the tracks 10 and 11 by the rivets or screws 26 and being raised at 27 to provide clearance for the enlarged tops 17 S5' of the tags. Thehousing 28 supportsa pivf otal pin 29 on which the rocker is mounted and can freely rock to a limited extent. The track 11 is bent out as at 30 to form a space for the rocker.

The inner ends 23, and 24 of the rocker are adapted to co-operate with the faces of the tags to allow the proper tags to enter thetrack. The form illustrated shows twoV notches 31 in the end 2 3v of the rocker and 95" one notch 32 in the end 24E-of the rocker. The tags have projections or embossed parts to match the notches in the rocker. Theseem-A bossedportions are separated longitudinally and-laterally by distances equal to the longi- 100 tudinal and lateral distances between the notches. The tag shown has projections 33 to fit the notches 3l and a single projection 34 to fit the notch 32.

The rocker has the central recessed part 35 and the inclined or bevelled ends 36 and at the raised parts `so provided I place the notches. The projections on the tag areinclined at the ends and these inclinations cooperate with the tapered ends of the rocker to move the rocker to a position where it will allow entry of a properly indentified tag.

This feature will be evident from Figures 2, 5 and 6. In Figure 6 a tagis ust entering the track and engages the rocker by its projection 34, first engaging one of the faces 36 of the rocker. The engagement of the projection 34 with an inclined Vface 36 of the rocker swings the engaged end of the rocker out of the way. This is shown in Figure 6. As the tag proceeds it moves the rocker to a balanced position due to the bevel projection engaging the other end 24. When the rocker is so positioned the projections 33V and 34 readily pass through the recesses 3l and 32. As the tag passes beyond the rocker it moves the rocker again to a blocking position as the projections 33 are out of line with the notch or recess 32 of the end ,24. The proper tag will therefore place the rocker in receiving position as it passes into engagement with the'rocker and also place the rocker in block-V ing position as it leaves the rocker. It will be evident that very many various combinations of notches and recesses are available to insure against installation of the wrong tags.

The track 10 isdepressed at 37 to form a stop shoulder 38. This prevents the removal or sliding back of tags without their being lifted clear of the shoulder.

' To enable a tag to be removed without moving it out through the stop or rocker, I pro-- vide an inclined channel 39 in the rail l0. This channel is large enough to receive the enlarged part of the tag but is inclined at an angle so sharp that the tag will not ride down into it under normal use. In other words, the tag must be sharply tilted before it can be passed out.

Various changes may be made in the size and shape of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim 1. A rack having a channel for receiving a l tag, a rocker projecting into the channel and having notches in its ends, in combination with a tag having projections spaced to t the notches of the rocker.

2. A rack having a channel for receiving a tag, a rocker projecting into the channell and having notches in its ends, in combination with a tag having embossed portions spaced longitudinally and laterally to simultaneously engage the notches inthe rocker. Y 3. A rack comprising a pair of spaced rails,

a rocker secured with its two ends projecting into the space between the rails, a flat tag to lit into the space and having means to suspend it by the rails, the rocker having its ends provided with notches, and the tag having one face provided with projections spaced the same as the notches of the rocker. v 4. Anidentifying mechanism comprising a track having parallel rails with a narrow space between them, a 4flat tag-adapted to be slid edgewise into the space and having means for supporting the tag on at least one of the rails, a means at the entrance end of the slot for resisting the entrance of tag into the slot, and co-operative means on the tag and theresisting means for moving said resisting means to allow the entrance of the tag. 5. An identifying mechanism comprising a track having ,parallel rails with a narrow space between them, a fiat tag adapted to be slid edgewise into the space and having means for supporting the tag `on at least one of the rails, a rocker at the entrance end of the track and having two ends adapted to a1- ternately enter the space between the rails, said ends having recesses therein, and proj ections on the tag to enter the recesses for pas'- sage of the tag and for engaging the said ends for moving the rocker into receptive position. 6. An identifying means comprising a pair of parallel rai-ls close together to receive a tag edgewise between them, a-tag to enter the space between the rails, one of the rails having a depressed part with a shoulder at the end toward the entrance end of the rails to prevent accidental outward passage of a tag on the rails, said tag having a shoulder at the top'to rest on said rail having the depressed portion.

7. An identifying mechanism comprising a Vtrack having two railsV spacedapart andy adapted to hold tags placed edgewise in the track, a` tag having a projection at the topV to rest on one of the rails, said rail having an inclined outwardly offset portion to allow the withdrawal of a tag. f l c 8. An identifying mechanism comprising atrack consisting of two parallel rails to re ceive tags between them and to support said tag on-the top of one rail,`said rail having an inclined outwardly extending portion kto permit ther'emoval of the supporting part of a tag through's'aid portion.

In testimony whereof he aiiixes his signature.k

" YWAL'IER SCHLUMPF. i 

